All Elite Wrestling presents Dark
Date: 10/29/2019
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Matches:
1.) Dustin Rhodes & Sonny Kiss defeated Peter Avalon & QT Marshall
2.) Emi Sakura defeated Allie, Penelope Ford and Sadie Gibbs
3.) Darby Allin defeated Jack Evans and Jimmy Havoc in a falls count anywhere match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Peter Avalon cuts a promo on his way to the ring and tells QT Marshall that the apple bite is a little too loud just like Sonny Kiss’s outfits. Avalon went to a local library and mentions the first World Series being between the Red Sox and Pirates, which the Pirates lost. Avalon says that Pittsburgh is consistently losers. Avalon pokes fun at the Steelers lineup being banged up. Leva Bates chimes in and provides a shhhh.
2.) Kiss and Avalon kickoff the tag match. Kiss grabs the book from Leva Bates and arm drags Avalon while keeping possession of the book. Kiss sits on Avalon’s back and looks at the book. Kiss shoves Avalon away and tosses the book to the floor. Kiss gets a two count with a rollup and follows up with a dropkick. Marshall enters the match and wants a piece of Rhodes. Kiss forearms Marshall and tags in Rhodes, but Marshall backs into the corner to avoid Rhodes. Rhodes shoulder blocks Marshall a couple of times and delivers a chop in the corner several times. Marshall sends Rhodes into the corner and does the Goldust taunt, but is met with a right hand and an arm drag. Rhodes works over the left arm, but Marshall knee lifts Rhodes. Rhodes kicks Marshall and Kiss hits a top rope clothesline. Kiss hits a standing moonsault as Rhodes hit a fist drop on Marshall for a two count. Marshall sends Kiss into the corner, but is met with a boot. Marshall sends Kiss to the apron where Kiss strikes Avalon and kicks Marshall. Bates distracts Kiss allowing Avalon to deliver a kick to knock Kiss to the apron. Marshall brings Kiss into the ring with a suplex off the middle rope and tags in Avalon. Avalon stomps Kiss on the mat several times. Avalon decks Kiss with a right hand strike. Avalon rams Kiss into the corner and continues with chops in the corner. Marshall tags into the match and they hit a double suplex on Kiss leading to a near fall.
Kiss nails Marshall with a kick to the head, but Avalon prevents a tag. Avalon keeps a chin lock on Kiss on the mat. Avalon taunts Rhodes on the apron. Avalon rams Kiss into the corner to keep the advantage. Avalon strikes Kiss in the corner and decks Rhodes on the apron. Avalon misses a splash in the corner and Kiss decks Avalon with a clothesline. Kiss mounts Avalon with strikes on the mat. Kiss is stopped by a forearm from Marshall and Avalon nearly wins on the cover, but Rhodes made the save on the cover. Avalon slams Kiss to the mat and misses a middle rope moonsault. Marshall misses a handspring moonsault and Kiss manages to tag in Rhodes.
Rhodes cleans house with clotheslines on Avalon and delivers a strike form his knees. Rhodes atomic drops Avalon followed by a boot strike. Rhodes dumps Marshall to the apron and hits a snap powerslam on Avalon and also on Marshall. Rhodes heads to the top rope hitting a twisting crossbody and covers Avalon for a two count as Marshall made the save. Kiss hits a top rope hurricanrana to send Marshall to the floor. Kiss leaps off the apron to nail Marshall with a double knee strike. Leva Bates gets on the top rope, but Rhodes catches her on a crossbody. Rhodes sits Bates on the top turnbuckle and Avalon collides with Bates knocking her to the floor. Rhodes hits a twisting vertical suplex and pins Avalon for the win. (**1/4. Kiss did a good job in there and did a lot more than I was expecting to see. Rhodes continues to maintain a strong connection with the crowd. I enjoy Avalon, but the librarian character isn’t going to do much of anything. I preferred him a lot more as Pretty Peter Avalon from NWA Hollywood days.)
3.) All four women are in the ring doing a test of strength, but Gibbs shows her strength by having the advantage. The other three women get the advantage with Allie posing on Gibbs back. Allie hits a crossbody on Sakura and Ford. Gibbs and Allie trade arm drags until Gibbs gets a two count on a cover. Allie backslides Gibbs for a two count. Allie tries for another rollup, but Ford makes the save and tosses Allie to the floor. Gibbs uppercuts Ford against the ropes and Ford delivers a running spin kick followed by a knee lift and nails Gibbs with a roundhouse kick to the head. Ford hits a crucifix bomb on Gibbs for a two count. Sakura backs Ford into a corner to deliver a chop and tosses Ford across the ring by her hair. Sakura grabs Ford’s hair to get out of a waist lock and dances with the referee. Sakura holds the referee’s arm and Ford runs into an elbow strike by the referee on accident. Sakura locks in a surfboard on Ford, but Allie sneaks in and covers Sakura for a near fall. Gibbs hits a handspring head scissors to send Allie into the corner, but misses a splash and Allie hits a running elbow strike and forearm. Gibbs nails Allie with a forearm smash, but Allie sunset flips Gibbs for a two count. Sakura grabs both Gibbs and Allie to lock in a double submission, but Ford puts an abdominal stretch on Sakura. Ford shoulder rams Allie in the corner. Gibbs sends Sakura into a corner and both Gibbs and Ford hit back handspring elbows in opposite corners. Ford and Gibbs try to cover Allie, but they can’t agree and begin to strike each other. Sakura kicks Ford from the apron and Allie nails Gibbs with elbow strikes. Allie hits a running elbow strike to Ford and baseball slides Sakura on the floor. Gibbs sends Ford through the ropes and Ford takes out Allie and Sakura with a suicide dive.
Gibbs hits a modified Cradle Shock on Ford for a two count as Allie made the save. Allie strikes Gibbs several times and tries for a suplex, but Gibbs blocks it. Ford tries to assist, but Gibbs blocks it. Sakura tries to help, but Gibbs is eventually taken over on a double suplex. Sakura chops Gibbs in the corner, but is kicked by Allie in the corner. Allie, Gibbs and Ford are sent into the same corner. Sakura signals for a running attack, but she is triple teamed. Sakura sends the three women into the same corner again. Sakura hits a running crossbody and a triple middle rope splash for a two count on all three women. Sakura gets a two count on Gibbs following a swinging neckbreaker. Allie superkicks Sakura, but is stopped by Ford with a DDT. Gibbs and Ford collide on stereo pump kicks. All four women are on their knees trading strikes in the middle of the ring. Sakura gets up first and they continue to trade strikes. Sakura tries for a double under hiook on Gibbs, but Gibbs avoids it. Allie hits a backstabber on Gibbs and Ford delivers a neckbreaker. Ford nails Allie with a cutter after avoiding a clothesline. Sakura drives Ford down with a Tiger Driver backbreaker for a near fall. Sakura hits a Tiger Driver and pins Ford for the win. (***. They got plenty of time and put on a solid match. There were a few clunky parts in the opening moments of the match, but they recovered and it ended up being an enjoyable match.)
4.) From Undesirable to Undeniable where Cody interviews wrestlers is next and this week Cody interviews MJF. Cody considers MJF his best friend. MJF has never undesirable in pro wrestling, but in life it is different. MJF talks about being on the football team and dealing with the adjustment of being the Jewish kid that took football positions. MJF recalls having a roll of quarters thrown at him and it messed him up badly. MJF made it point to go to the gym and train right. MJF reveals the person who bullied him became a drug addict and dropped out of school while he’s rich. Cody doesn’t think there’s any way to out do that interview and MJF agrees.
5.) Alex Marquez interviews Kip Sabian regarding an upcoming match on Dynamite. Sabian asks Marquez what was the first ever AEW match, which was Kip versus Sammy Guevara and won it. Kip has the best win/loss record, but hasn’t been on Dynamite. Sabian says that himself, Angelico and Jack Evans agree that it’s all about the Elite. If they want to make a statement they must go after the Elite. The endgame is to beat the Elite and become the Elite as a result.
6.) Evans spin kicks both Havoc and Allin before hitting a springboard moonsault to both men. Evans rolls over Havoc’s back to kick Allin. Evans sends Havoc into a corner and delivers a handspring back elbow strike. Havoc runs into a boot in the corner, but stops Evans with an uppercut and hits a rolling Death Valley Driver followed by a dropkick. Allin rolls Havoc up out of the corner for a two count. Allin slaps Havoc a few times and hits a Code Red for a two count as Evans makes the save and nearly pins Allin with a rollup. Allin sends Evans into the corner to deliver a splash. Havoc nails Allin with a discus forearm strike. Allin avoids two suplexs attempts and hits a stunner on Havoc. Allin takes Evans out with a suicide dive to the floor! Havoc smashes Allin with a chair shot between the ropes and delivers a suplex on the floor for a near fall. Havoc smashes Evans on the floor with another chair shot. Havoc plays to the crowd and sends Evans over the railing into the crowd. Allin forearms Havoc several times on the floor. Havoc backdrops Allin over the railing into Evans in the crowd. Havoc hits a flipping senton off the railing onto both men in the crowd. Havoc sends Allin into the railing in the crowd to maintain control of the match. Evans kicks Havoc out of a chair in the crowd. Allin smashes Evans with a sign in the crowd.
Havoc sends Allin into another barricade for a two count. Evans suplexs Havoc on the ramp leading to a near fall. Evans gets in the face of the referee. Evans tries for a springboard moonsault off the stage, but Havoc hits a reverse suplex for a two count. Havoc kicks Allin off the stage to the floor. Havoc leaps off the stage to elbow drop Allin for a near fall. Evans waits by the entrance and hits a somersault dive onto both men. Evans covers Havoc for a two count and does the same on Allin. Evans rolls Havoc into the ring and grabs a couple of chairs. Evans slides a few chairs into the ring. Evans tries for a springboard leg lariat, but Havoc delivers a strike to stop Evans in midair. Allin tries to suplex Havoc to the floor. Havoc suplexs Allin into the ring from the apron. Havoc hip tosses Evans into the corner and is put in the tree of woe. Havoc hits a Death Valley Driver on Allin onto Evans for a near fall on Allin. Havoc grabs Evans on the middle rope, but Allin has Havoc on his shoulders allowing Evans to hit a double stomp for a near fall. Evans and Allin trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Allin locks in an arm bar submission in the middle of the ring. Allin prevents Evans from reaching the ropes and Havoc smashes Allin with a chair shot. Havoc drops Allin with a Tiger Driver ’98 onto a chair for a near fall as Evans makes the save. Havoc smashes Evans with another chair shot. Havoc comes off the ropes, but Evans delivers a backbreaker onto two chairs. Evans leaps off the top hitting a 450 splash for a two count. Allin slides a table into the ring, but Evans knocks Allin off the apron to the floor and sets the table up over the middle rope in the corner. Evans lays Havoc onto the table and heads to the top rope, but Havoc stops Evans with a gouge to the face. Havoc puts Evans through the table with a piledriver! Allin nails Havoc with a chair assisted Coffin Drop and pins Evans for the win. (***. This was a fun brawl with the final few minutes providing some good spots to pop the crowd. It’s pretty obvious early on that Darby is going to be a favorite and provide some great memories moving forward.)
Final Thoughts:
An easy hour of AEW Dark this week with the matches all getting plenty of time to showcase their talents.
Thanks for reading.